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Qatar Airways celebrates special milestone with huge sale

<p>Qatar Airways launched its first service in Australia 15 years ago and to celebrate the special milestone they have announced an epic sale. </p> <p>Prices have dropped for a bunch of their popular destinations including Nice, London, Dublin, Lisbon, New York and Seychelles. </p> <p>The sale is on now until September 30, 2024 for flights between October 1, 2024 to June 10, 2025.</p> <p>Economy flights from Sydney to London start from $1849, or business class from $8189. </p> <p>For those in Melbourne wanting to experience their Europe summer, flights to Nice start from from $1849 or on business class from $8099.</p> <p>And if you're looking to visit the concrete jungle, flights to New York from Brisbane start from $1839 for economy or $7859 for business class. </p> <p>The fares include taxes, fees and airport surcharges. </p> <p>The Doha-based airline offers services to more than 49 destinations from Australia across Europe and the UK, 29 destinations across Africa, and 33 destinations across the Middle East. They also offer flights to 13 destinations across North and South America. </p> <p>In 2024, Qatar Airways was voted the World's Best Airline in the annual Skytrax’s World Airline Awards in June, for the eighth time. </p> <p>It also won the awards for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline in the Middle East.</p> <p>“This is a proud moment for Qatar Airways. I am honoured to share this award with my dedicated team,” Qatar Airways group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said at the Skytrax event in London.</p> <p>“This award is a testimony to our relentless commitment to providing unparalleled service and innovation. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers with the highest level of excellence.”</p> <p><em>Image: </em><em>Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock.com</em></p>

International Travel

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Beloved teddy bear left in airport lounge rescued by airline

<p dir="ltr">Staff at British Airways have rescued a child’s stuffed teddy bear that was left behind in an airport lounge, documenting the toy’s safe journey home. </p> <p dir="ltr">The treasured teddy was found in the British Airways lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport by nine-year-old Alex, who accidentally left the toy behind before boarding a flight home to Dubai. </p> <p dir="ltr">After staff found the stranded toy, a new flight and boarding pass was created for Postman Bear, while members of the BA team gave the teddy the”'VIP treatment”  with a journey on an airport buggy to “catch up” with the Cabin Crew Operations team in the Crew Report Centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">Postman Bear was then taken to meet the cabin crew on his new flight to Dubai and was pictured “patiently” waiting for his flight at the gate, drinking a cup of coffee and enjoying “some great views of the aircraft” while waiting to board. </p> <p dir="ltr">The teddy’s journey home was lovingly captured by British Airways customer manager, Ed Tumath, who sent the snaps back to young Alex to assure him his beloved bear was being looked after. </p> <p dir="ltr">After touching down in Dubai, the cabin crew took Postman Bear to reunite with Alex and the rest of his family for a “bear-y happy reunion”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stuart, Alex's parent, recalled the moment they knew the teddy was missing, while praising British Airways for their tireless journey to reunite Alex with his bear. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stuart said, “My son had left his teddy bear - huge sentimental value as he has had the teddy since birth - in the British Airways lounge ahead of the flight. We noticed as the aircraft doors were closing so nothing could be done at that point.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“This was very distressing to my son who uses the teddy as a calming item, especially when flying. This was incredibly stressful and we feared that his beloved teddy may be lost forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Whilst onboard the flight, I took to a series of Facebook groups to seek help in finding the teddy. A member of the group contacted Ed who came to the rescue. I managed to communicate with Ed on the flight and received a picture showing that the teddy had been found, which calmed my son.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not only did Ed go out of his way to find the teddy but he communicated so well throughout. He genuinely cared about the situation and worked so hard to get the teddy back to us.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“He arranged for the teddy to board a flight to Dubai a couple of days later and a crew member handed the teddy back to us. Not only did Ed excel in his caring manner and communication, he even provided a few pictures of the teddy's journey, which my son will treasure forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“My son was so relieved - words could not express how grateful we are to Ed for his kind act and dedication to getting the teddy back to us. I have been flying with BA for many years - this is the best experience I have had by far and I am overwhelmed by Ed's efforts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sometimes amazing people do incredible things and show such kindness along the way... these things matter. This meant a huge amount to my family and I, and we will be forever grateful.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: British Airways</em></p>

International Travel

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Woman's identity confirmed after tragic death on Qatar Airways flight

<p>Sharon Gordon has been identified as the woman who died on board a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Sydney over the weekend. </p> <p>The 60-year-old was a customer service station attendant at Wynyard Station, and was on a solo flight home after visiting her daughter in London.</p> <p>Halfway into the 14-hour flight, Gordon had reportedly started gasping and was found unresponsive. </p> <p>Another passenger, her husband and baby were seated a row in front of Gordon, when they heard her making a "weird noise". </p> <p>The female passenger was woken by the noise and had to look around in the dark to figure out what was going on. </p> <p>“She looked like she was sleeping, but she was making this really loud noise,” she told <em>7News</em>.</p> <p>She claimed that a stewardess checked on Gordon, before two more joined her and brought oxygen. </p> <p>“But then they just left,” the female passenger added. </p> <p>The couple claimed that they were told by staff that “everything was all right," but “you could see she wasn’t breathing." </p> <p>Around 20 minutes later, four different stewards arrived and lifted Gordon off her seat before giving her CPR and starting a defibrillator. </p> <p>“I turned around and looked at the lady and she was very pale and her lips were white,” the female passenger added. </p> <p>“At that point, my husband and I thought that she was dead.”</p> <p>She described Gordon as "limp" and asked “why didn’t they do that a half hour earlier?”</p> <p>An hour after Gordon's first gasps, they made an announcement asking if there were any doctor's or nurses on board. </p> <p>Now, Gordon's family are desperate for answers, with <em>7News </em>reporting that her family have requested help from the federal government after the airline said they did everything they could. </p> <p>“I love her and will miss her so much,” Gordon's partner Rob Bray told the publication. </p> <p>“Mother to Cameron and Ashley. She will be so sorely missed by us all.</p> <p>“Her workmates at Wynyard Station are devastated.”</p> <p>A Qatar Airways spokesperson previously told the publication: “Regrettably, the lady could not be revived.”</p> <p>“Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.”</p> <p><em>Image: 7News/ Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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23-year-old bravely dies on her own terms

<p> A terminally ill young woman from Adelaide has ended her life under the state’s voluntary assisted dying laws.</p> <p>In a funeral notice published in the<em> Adelaide Advertiser</em>, the family of Lily Thai said she died at the Flinders Medical Centre on June 21.</p> <p>“Much loved daughter of Kate and Le. Beloved granddaughter, niece and cousin. Treasured friend to many,” the family wrote.</p> <p>The family have shared that her funeral will be held at Centennial Park Cemetery on June 29.</p> <p>She made the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/23-year-old-reveals-why-she-s-chosen-to-end-her-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartbreaking decision</a> to take her own life after countless surgeries failed to improve her illness.</p> <p>Thai suffered from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) – a genetic condition that left her completely bedridden and in constant pain.</p> <p>Her powerful story touched thousands nationwide before she passed away.</p> <p>Thai had long wished to take her own life with dignity after a battle with such a debilitating condition.</p> <p>“I decided that pain was so severe it wasn’t worth it, and I just wanted to take it into my own hands,” Thai told the Adelaide Advertiser.</p> <p>After her painful health battle, she spent her last days at the Flinders Medical Centre, where she said she mainly slept while in “excruciating pain”</p> <p>Thai had recently signed the paperwork to use South Australia’s voluntary assisted dying laws, which came into effect in January 2023, to end her life after being administered an IV medication.</p> <p><em>Image credit: The Advertiser / TikTok</em></p>

Caring

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23-year-old reveals why she's chosen to end her life

<p>23-year-old Lily Thai has made the crippling decision to end her life.</p> <p>The Adelaide native, who suffers from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), will use recently passed voluntary assisted dying laws after signing the final paperwork a week prior.</p> <p>In January 2023, South Australia legalised assisted dying with the government funnelling in $18 million over the next five years to support safe access to the service.</p> <p>“I realised that I can’t have any more anaesthesia, so I (couldn’t) have any more feeding tube changes (or) surgeries,” Thai told <em>The Advertiser</em>.</p> <p>EDS is a debilitating genetic condition which has left the 23-year-old completely bedridden and in constant pain.</p> <p>It affects her joints, skin and walls of the blood vessels so severely she is reliant on her father as a caregiver to do everything for her, “even the most intimate things”.</p> <p>Doctors will administer an IV medication that will terminate the young woman’s life within 10 seconds.</p> <p>“I’ll no longer have any pain, I will no longer suffer with any of these issues, and I’ll finally be free of all the suffering that I have endured for so many years.”</p> <p>Thai had initially thought her health deterioration was caused by a spinal fluid leak, but after undergoing treatment to fix it, her condition did not improve and doctors couldn’t give her a definitive diagnosis.</p> <p>As a desperate last measure, she travelled to Sydney to meet a surgeon who “specialised in spinal issues (for) patients with EDS” when she was 21.</p> <p>She was then confined to a halo brace and required a nasal feeding tube as she "couldn’t keep anything down,” and weighed just 40kg.</p> <p>In May 2021, Thai had spinal fusion surgery and just a week later was fitted with a gastro Jejenul feeding tube to vent out stomach acid and secretion.</p> <p>Through her rehab period, hospitals were under strict Covid-19 protocols, so Thai suffered alone without any visitors.</p> <p>“I couldn’t stand not seeing my dad, so I got discharged early,” she said.</p> <p>She was later diagnosed with auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy — a rare condition where the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system.</p> <p>“The neurologist said that I was in multi-organ failure, but it wasn’t until I had a severe decline after one of my surgeries, (and) when I saw my rehab doctor they found a large lesion of the left side of my brain,” she said.</p> <p>“He suspected I had a type of motor neurone disease.”</p> <p>Thai has spent the past two years at Flinders Medical Centre’s Laurel Hospice, where she shared that most of her days are filled with sleep to avoid being in “excruciating pain”.</p> <p>Healthcare staff there granted one of her final wishes, which was to visit a beach, and so they took Thai in the back of an ambulance to the coastline. </p> <p>An image (at top) shows Lily resting on a bed, enjoying her Maccas fries and looking out at the golden sand and blue water in front of her.</p> <p>While at the hospice, Thai also formed a strong bond with another young woman, Annaliese Holland, who was also suffering a terminal illness at the hospice.</p> <p>The pair say young people with a terminal illness often mourn the “life (they) never got to have.”</p> <p>“For elderly or older people, (they) have memories to look back on to laugh about and cry about,” Holland said. “But for a young person in palliative hospice, you haven’t formed many of them.”</p> <p>“You never do the normal things like going to your high school graduation,” Thai said.</p> <p>“What makes me sad is that … you just want to push on, but at the same time it’s really hard because you know you won’t have babies or any of that,” Holland said.</p> <p>Holland has vowed to do everything in her power to make Thai’s last days in hospice more bearable.</p> <p>“All I can do is brush her (Lily’s) hair or moisturise her legs. I just want her to know that I’m there and people care,” a tearful Holland said.</p> <p>Thai has been able to plan parts of her own funeral and has been busy saying goodbye to family and friends.</p> <p>As part of her legacy, she’s inviting donations for palliative research to The Hospital Research Foundation on her memorial card to be given to funeral attendees.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Thai cave rescue survivor dies aged just 17

<p>Duangphet Promthep, one of 12 boys who was rescued along with their soccer coach from the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system in northern Thailand, has died. </p> <p>Duangphet was found unconscious in his dormitory on Sunday, and sadly passed away two days later. While the exact cause of death is unknown at this time, reports from the United Kingdom suggest he had suffered a head injury. </p> <p>Duangphet had only been enrolled in Leicester’s Brooke House College Football Academy since late 2022. </p> <p>Thai non-profit organisation Zico Foundation, which had assisted him in getting a scholarship to study in England, shared its condolences on Facebook. </p> <p>“Zico Foundation would like to express its condolences and condolence for the passing away of Little Dom Duangphet Phromthep,” they wrote of Duangphet, who also went by the name ‘Dom’, “a student of Zico Foundation.”</p> <p>When Duangphet was only 13 years old, he was trapped with his soccer team - the Wild Boars soccer team of which he was captain - and their squad’s assistant coach for over two weeks in a cave system known as the ‘Great Cave of the Sleeping Lady'. </p> <p>The twelve boys were between the ages 11 and 16, and 4 kilometres into their fateful adventure, when rising floodwaters prevented their escape from Thailand’s fourth-largest cave system. </p> <p>It was an international effort to save the boys and their coach, with a search and rescue mission that spanned over two weeks, with divers from Thailand and from overseas stepping in to help. </p> <p>Some of the boys who were with him in those terrifying times shared their condolences on social media as news of his passing broke around the world. </p> <p>“Brother, you told me that we would be achieving our football dream,” wrote Titan Chanin Viboonrungruan. “If the next world is real, I want us to play football together again, my brother Dom.”</p> <p>“You told me to wait and see you play for the national team, I always believed that you would do it," Prachak Sutham said. "When we met the last time before you left for England, I even jokingly told you that when you come back, I would have to ask for your autograph.</p> <p>"Sleep well, my dear friend. We will always have 13 of us together."</p> <p>In a statement, Duangphet’s school principal Ian Smith said, “this event has left our college community deeply saddened and shaken.</p> <p>“We unite in grief with all of Dom's family, friends, former teammates and those involved in all parts of his life, as well as everyone affected in any way by this loss in Thailand and throughout the college's global family."</p> <p>Dom’s mother joined an online news conference and shared her hope that a Buddhist monk in England would be able to conduct rites for Duangphet.</p> <p>In that same conference, former Thai national soccer team coach and the Zico Foundation’s chairman Kiatisuk Senamuang, described his shock at the news of Duangphet’s passing. </p> <p>“My thoughts are with his family and friends,' he said, fighting tears. 'I think back to his dream of becoming a professional footballer, representing his country and his voice keeps speaking in my head.”</p> <p>He went on to explain that as far as he knew, Duangphet had been healthy, as a full health check had been performed in order for Duangphet to obtain his student visa. While his cause of death is currently unknown, an investigation into the cause will likely take place, and hopefully provide his loved ones with closure in this tragic time. </p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p> <p> </p>

News

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"Someone give them a raise": Hilarious way ground crew entertained trapped passengers

<p>Two very creative ground-crew air marshalls have enjoyed a brush with instant viral fame after hilarious footage of them entertaining passengers stuck on a delayed plane was shared to TikTok.</p> <p>Fortunately for the poor passengers stranded on the British Airways plane last month due to engineering issues, two nearby air marshalls were determined to pass the time and distract them following the tediously long delay, using their glowing marshalling wands to put on an entertaining performance.</p> <p>Air Marshall Quinten Moshy posted a video of his antics on TikTok, which quickly racked up close to 1 million views.</p> <p>"Put this in every ramp agent's job description," he joked in the caption.</p> <p>The video showed the two airport workers using their marshalling wands as if they were light sabres and acting out dramatic battle scenes. Committed to the performance, the marshalls ducked and weaved, while one pretended to die after he was 'struck'.</p> <p>Other antics included creating glowing smiley faces and hearts on the tarmac and dancing the moves to the song 'Y.M.C.A'.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@quintenmoshy/video/7117811535212301614" data-video-id="7117811535212301614"> <section><a title="@quintenmoshy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@quintenmoshy?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@quintenmoshy</a> Put this in every ramp agent’s job description <a title="airport" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/airport?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#airport</a> <a title="airplane" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/airplane?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#airplane</a> <a title="travel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/travel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#travel</a> <a title="rampagent" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/rampagent?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#rampagent</a> <a title="pilot" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pilot?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#pilot</a> <a title="bayarea" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bayarea?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#bayarea</a> <a title="california" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/california?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#california</a> <a title="london" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/london?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#london</a> <a title="787" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/787?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#787</a> <a title="vacation" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/vacation?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#vacation</a> <a title="work" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/work?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#work</a> <a title="fyp" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fyp</a> <a title="ymca" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ymca?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#ymca</a> <a title="minions" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/minions?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#minions</a> <a title="starwars" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/starwars?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#starwars</a> <a title="lightsaber" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lightsaber?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#lightsaber</a> <a title="happy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/happy?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#happy</a> <a title="aviation" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aviation?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#aviation</a> <a title="love" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/love?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#love</a> <a title="♬ Y.M.C.A. - The Minions" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/YMCA-6795407731260917762?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Y.M.C.A. - The Minions</a></section> </blockquote> <p>TikTok users really enjoyed the goofy act and one person said they should find a video from someone stranded on the plane so we could see what THEY were seeing out their windows.</p> <p>"Someone find the passengers POV," they wrote.</p> <p>Sure enough, fellow viewers pulled through and pointed to TikTok user Abi Smith, who had created her own video of the dramatic antics of the air marshalls.</p> <p>"POV: [Point of View]: Your plane gets delayed so the marshalls put on a performance." she captioned the video.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@abi_smithxxx/video/7117374061935676678" data-video-id="7117374061935676678"> <section><a title="@abi_smithxxx" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@abi_smithxxx?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@abi_smithxxx</a> <a title="britishairways" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/britishairways?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#britishairways</a> <a title="delayed" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/delayed?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#delayed</a> <a title="marshallers" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/marshallers?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#marshallers</a> <a title="♬ Angeleyes (Sped Up Version) - april aries bae (SVT)" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Angeleyes-Sped-Up-Version-7089425867910236954?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Angeleyes (Sped Up Version) - april aries bae (SVT)</a></section> </blockquote> <p>People commented, saying the entertaining pair deserved a reward for their dedication.</p> <p>"Give the performers an applause," wrote one person.</p> <p>"Someone give them a raise," another added.</p> <p><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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British Airways introduces gender neutral greetings

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">British Airways are adopting new tactics to make their journeys more inclusive to all travellers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The UK airline giant is joining a growing list of travel companies that are implementing more gender-neutral language, by ditching the traditional "ladies and gentlemen" greeting.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the move falls in line with an industry-wide global trend, the decision is also due to a change in the airline’s clientele, with the carrier reporting more children onboard since COVID-19 restrictions have been lessened. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the </span><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/10/09/hello-passengers-inclusive-welcome-announcement/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Telegraph</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the new policies would adhere to changing social norms, as well as make younger customers feel more included. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The airline is just one of many to make the important change. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Japan Airlines was one of the first major carriers to ditch the traditional “ladies and gentlemen” titles for inflight announcements back in 2020. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">German carrier Lufthansa also changed their language to a more inclusive tone in July, as they pledged their commitment to diversity. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Qantas has also made strides towards inclusivity in 2018, as they changed the use of “mother and father” to “parents” on all flights to include parents of different sexualities. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the time, the airline introduced a new staff booklet highlighting language geared towards the</span> <a href="https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-releases-video-to-celebrate-the-spirit-of-australia/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Spirit of Inclusion"</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">which advised against using language that could be deemed offensive to the LGBTQ+ community. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Shutterstock</span></em></p>

Travel Tips

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You must try this prawn and broccolini pad Thai

<p>This recipe is a perfect mix of broccoli and Chinese kale. It has a mild peppery taste that becomes sweeter when cooked.</p> <p>Serves 4 | Takes 15 minutes</p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <ul> <li>2 bunches Broccolini, roughly chopped</li> <li>200g packet pad Thai rice stick noodles</li> <li>¼ cup fish sauce</li> <li>2 tablespoons grated palm sugar or brown sugar</li> <li>1 lime, juiced</li> <li>2 tablespoons peanut oil</li> <li>700g medium green prawns, peeled, deveined</li> <li>2 eggs, lightly beaten</li> <li>3 tablespoons pad Thai paste</li> <li>3 green onions, thinly sliced</li> <li>bean sprouts, coriander leaves and fried shallots</li> <li>lime wedges, to serve</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method</strong></p> <p>1. Cook the noodles following the packet directions. Drain and cover to keep warm. Combine the fish sauce, palm sugar and lime juice. Stir to dissolve the sugar then set aside.</p> <p>2. Heat the wok over a high heat until hot. Add 2 teaspoons of oil and swirl to coat the surface.  Add half the prawns and stir-fry for 1 minute or until they turn pink.</p> <p>3. Remove to a plate. Repeat with oil and remaining prawns.</p> <p>4. Add 2 teaspoons of oil and the Broccolini to the hot wok and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of water, cover and steam for 30 seconds. Remove to the plate with the prawns. Add the remaining oil. Pour in the eggs. Cook, gently stirring for 1 minute, or until scrambled. Push to one side of the wok.</p> <p>5. Add stir-fry paste and cook for 30 seconds. Return the Broccolini and prawns to the wok with the noodles and fish sauce mixture. Stir-fry until combined and hot. Add the onions and stir fry for 30 seconds. Top with bean sprouts, coriander and fried shallots. Serve with lime.</p> <p><strong>Tips</strong></p> <p>1. For a chicken and Broccolini pad Thai, replace the prawns with 600g chicken breast fillet, thinly sliced.</p> <p><em>Image and recipe courtesy of <a href="https://www.perfection.com.au/home">Perfection Fresh.</a></em></p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/recipes/broccolini-prawn-pad-thai">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

Food & Wine

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Strip search horror: Doctor onboard Qatar flight speaks out

<p>A fellow passenger on-board the Qatar Airways flight that saw 13 Australian women subjected to “invasive” physical examination has given a “horrifying” account of exactly how the situation unfolded.</p> <p>Travelling to Sydney, Dr Wolfgang Babeck was on board Qatar Airways flight 908 on October 2 and had to endure lengthy delays after a premature baby was found alive in an airport bathroom.</p> <p>As the search for the baby’s mother commenced, 13 women were forced to disembark from the flight and undergo invasive gynaecological exams without any explanation.</p> <p>Appearing on The Project, Dr Babeck recounted the incident saying the plane had sat for three hours on the tarmac at Doha’s Hamad International Airport before passengers were told the airport had been closed.</p> <p>“About three hours in, the women were asked to disembark the plane and, in fact, I thought, ‘the vulnerable people are being taken off the plane and there is probably a security incident or something’.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The federal government is today demanding answers from Qatari authorities after as many as 13 Australian women were reportedly forced to endure a terrifying strip-search ordeal in Doha. <a href="https://t.co/BVd2Y2ToYS">pic.twitter.com/BVd2Y2ToYS</a></p> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1320631171668201475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>“And sure enough, shortly thereafter, some security guards came on board to basically search whether another person would be hiding on the plane,” Dr Babeck told host Carrie Bickmore.</p> <p>He continued to say that none of the passengers had been told about the baby, and the women were not given any indication as to why they were being asked to get off the plane.</p> <p>“From what I understand, which is very frightening, many, if not all of them were not told prior to their inspection what the reason for it was, so it only came out at the end when they reboarded … it must have been a terrifying ordeal, not even knowing what the purpose of this is,” he said.</p> <p>Bickmore, who described the incident as “deeply shocking,” and “unfathomable,” asked what the women’s demeanour was like when they returned to the aircraft.</p> <p>“Shell-shocked. Certainly the beginning. They were in disbelief, you know? You would have imagined this would have happened 100 years ago, but not now … One lady cried, others were certainly upset, but I think becoming angry in a mood to protest or to take action? That occurred much later,” he said.</p> <p>Dr Babeck went through the hotel quarantine process alongside the women from his flight after disembarking, and has kept in contact with them via a WhatsApp group.</p> <p>He said he was “utterly impressed” by how they’ve been coping.</p> <p>“I have utmost admiration for them, because they have very strong personalities among them, different character, but I think united by the idea that this can never happen again, and that they would like to use their personal ordeal to make sure that people are made responsible for what has occurred, and that there is an investigation going on,” he said.</p> <p>The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is waiting for a report from Qatari authorities into the incident, which Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne described as “grossly disturbing and offensive” and unlike anything she “had ever heard of”.</p> <p>The incident has been reported to the Australian Federal Police.</p>

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Thai king self isolates with 20 concubines during coronavirus pandemic

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Thailand’s controversial king is self-isolating in a luxury four-star hotel with his harem of 20 concubines.</p> <p>King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, has angered many with his decision to self-isolate in the hotel.</p> <p>He is said to have booked out the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl after the hotel received “special permission” from the district council to accommodate his party.</p> <p>His group includes a harem of 20 concubines and numerous servants, but it is currently unclear as to whether or not his four wives are in the hotel with the rest of the group.</p> <p>A spokesperson for the local district council has defended the choice to let the king stay there as “the guests are a single homogenous group of people with no fluctuation”, despite guesthouses and hotels in the region being ordered to close down.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLL-P4Mj7mc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLL-P4Mj7mc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl (@grandhotelsonnenbichl)</a> on Oct 5, 2016 at 8:57am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>119 members of the entourage have reportedly been sent back to Thailand on suspicions they have contracted coronavirus.</p> <p>News of Vajiralongkorn’s self-isolation in a luxury location was met with anger by thousands of Thai people who criticised him online.</p> <p>This is despite the lèse-majesté laws that are currently in place, which means that criticising the royal family is illegal and punished with imprisonment for up to 15 years. A Thai hashtag, which translate to “Why do we need a king?” appeared 1.2 million times on Twitter after an activist claimed that the king was travelling on holiday in Germany while the outbreak continued to ravage Thailand.</p> <p>Activist Somsak Jeamteerasakul is a vocal critic of Thailand’s monarchy and said in one post that the King will let the Thai people worry about the virus.</p> <p>“[Vajiralongkorn will] let the Thai people worry about the virus. Even Germany is worried about the virus [but] it’s none of his business.”</p> <p>The Thai king has not made a public appearance in his hoem country since February.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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Delicious recipe for pad thai

<p><em> </em>A popular Thai dish with a healthy twist! This recipe uses kelp noodles that are crunchy and incredibly low in fat and calories – it's a great dinner option!</p> <p><a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fraw-is-more-eccie-newton%2Fprod9780857833235.html">Edited recipe extract from Raw Is More by Eccie and Gini Newton, published by Kyle Books and distributed by Simon &amp; Schuster Australia, RRP $35.</a></p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <ul> <li>1 packet (250g) of kelp noodles </li> <li>A handful of coriander leaves </li> <li>2 tablespoons dried peanuts (dehydrated for 3 hours), roughly ground </li> <li>2 large handfuls of beansprouts </li> <li>1 carrot, spiralized into spaghetti-like curls </li> <li>3 tablespoons small dried shrimp </li> <li>1 teaspoon dried garlic flakes (shop-bought or dehyrated in very thin slices for 3 hours) </li> <li>1 tablespoon dried shallots (shop-bought or dehyrated in very thin slices for 3 hours) </li> <li>1 lime, cut into wedges</li> </ul> <p><strong>For the dressing</strong> </p> <ul> <li>30g raw cane sugar </li> <li>60g dried peanuts (dehydrated for 3 hours), reserving half for garnish </li> <li>1 teaspoon fermented chilli bean paste </li> <li>50ml tamarind water </li> <li>50ml fish sauce</li> </ul> <p><strong>Directions</strong></p> <p>1. First make the dressing. Grind half the dehydrated peanuts with the sugar using a pestle and mortar. Grind in the chilli paste. Gradually add the tamarind water and fish sauce and keep grinding to fully combine the ingredients. Set aside in a large bowl.</p> <p>2. Soak the kelp noodles in cold water for 10 minutes. Pick the coriander leaves off the stalks, then finely chop the stalks. Drain the kelp noodles and toss in the large bowl containing the dressing, then toss in the beansprouts, carrot and coriander stalks. Finally toss in the dried shrimp.</p> <p>3. Divide between two plates and top each portion with the remaining peanuts, dried garlic, dried shallot and coriander leaves and a couple of lime wedges.</p> <p><strong>Tips</strong></p> <ul> <li>Dehydrating the peanuts gives the dish a stronger flavour.</li> <li>Serves 2</li> </ul> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/pad-thai.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

Food & Wine

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One of the world's biggest airlines collapses

<p>India’s Jet Airways has finally collapsed after months of speculation.</p> <p>The once iconic airline has been struggling for months to stay in business and the announcement follows weeks of questions over the fate of the airline.</p> <p>Jet Airways has failed to secure emergency funding from India’s banks and is suspending all flights.</p> <p>The collapse of Jet Airways is the biggest in India since the failure of Kingfisher Airlines back in 2012.</p> <p>The blow is massive to the Indian aviation industry, as demand soars for services. However, airlines are struggling to keep the prices low.</p> <p>Jet Airways explained in a statement their sadness.</p> <p>"This has been a very difficult decision but without interim funding, the airline is simply unable to conduct flight operations," Jet Airways said in statement.</p> <p>"Above all, the airline would like to express its sincere gratitude to all its employees and stakeholders that have stood by the company in these trying times."</p> <p>The airline was informed late on Tuesday by a range of lenders that are led by the government-run State Bank of India that the airline would not be receiving more funds.</p> <p>Passengers are being informed about the closure of the airline via email and text messages and are able to claim a refund.</p> <p>The airline’s operations had shrunk to 40 flights on 5 aircraft on Tuesday, before the closure was announced.</p> <p>However, the banks are continuing to search for a private investor to buy 75 per cent of the airline. The deadline for bids is May 10th.</p>

Travel Trouble

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“Never ever again”: Passenger slams British Airways for serving inedible food aboard flight

<p>A businessman travelling with his family has slammed British Airways for serving food that made him ‘wretch’ as he claims to have been given ‘burnt chicken nuggets’ and substandard meals on his flight home from Mauritius.</p> <p>Adam Ball posted photos of the disappointing food on his social media, claiming that it was ‘truly awful’ and ‘inedible’. Mr Ball would have paid around $4,400 for return tickets to Mauritius.</p> <p>The images, which were posted on August 12, show three meals all appearing as unappetising as the next. Burnt chicken nuggets, vegetable lasagne and sausage, egg and burnt beans were all part of the menu.</p> <p>Mr Ball, who runs a plumbing and heating firm in Surrey, England said that the chicken nuggets were a part of the children’s meal and that he doesn’t think it’s "appropriate to feed to a dog let alone children".</p> <p>The vegetable lasagne was so terrible that it almost made Mr Ball vomit as was the sausage, egg and burnt beans.</p> <p>After filing a complaint with British Airways, Mr Ball said that he received a generic response from customer services and that he will "never ever again" fly with British Airways after this shocking experience.</p> <p>But the food wasn’t the only thing wrong with the flight, as Mr Ball claimed that there were "countless other problems with our recent long-haul BA flight."</p> <p>The comments on the British Airways Facebook page seemed to agree with his sentiment as the airline's social media is flooded with countless complaints.</p> <p>“The sad thing is, we are paying such extortionate prices for these flights – flights are often delayed, and service is terrible,” said Facebook user Dianne Gornall.</p> <p>Other users have pointed out the lack of communication from the airline as Debbie Leung asked: “Does BA actually respond to any complaints? We travelled with them in January from Hong Kong to London, cabin crew was rude, and the air quality was awful.”</p> <p>A spokeswoman from British Airways has said: “We pride ourselves on the quality of the meals we offer on board and have recently launched a multi-million-pound investment programme into our World Traveller catering.</p> <p>“Our team of expert chefs from around the world develop new menus every month to ensure our meals are full of flavour at 35,000ft.</p> <p>“We are sorry that our standards fell below our customer’s expectation on this occasion.</p> <p>“Feedback is always passed on to our catering teams who check the quality of the food we serve on board every week.”</p> <p>Have you ever had a terrible in-flight experience? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Thai cave boys speak for the first time about their ordeal after leaving hospital

<p>For the first time, the Thai cave boys trapped underground for two weeks have answered questions at a press conference following their recovery in hospital.</p> <p>All 12 players and their coach were greeted with cheers from a crowd outside as they entered the government hall, looking healthy and happy after their terrifying ordeal.</p> <p>The only member of the team to speak English, Adul Sam-on, described the moment he heard the rescuers first coming.</p> <p>“I started to listen and it became reality, the [talking]. I asked Mick to go down, because [he] was holding the torch,” he said.</p> <p>“Quickly, go down to have a look, otherwise they might go past us.”</p> <p>Adul said his teammates hesitated, so he took the torch and investigated the noises himself.</p> <p>“I greeted them, I said, ‘Hello.’ I heard, ‘Hello.’ Someone was raising their head above the water and said, ‘Hello’."</p> <p>“I went in there and the noise asked, ‘Hello, is anyone there?’</p> <p>“When they came out of the water, I was surprised. I didn’t know what to talk to them.</p> <p>“I said ‘hello’, or something like that.</p> <p>“When they said ‘hello’ to me, I said ‘hello’ back. It was so magnificent. I didn’t know questions to ask. It took me a while before I could answer them, when they asked me how I was. I answered them, I was so surprised. The person asked me how many of us there were. I said ‘13' … They answered, ‘Brilliant,’ and the person was very happy knowing there was 13 of us.”</p> <p>Another boy said the group had difficulty understanding the dive team because their English was not very good.</p> <p>“Everyone was so happy when they heard the noise of the divers … It was the first noise from outside in 10 days. They asked me to go up, go higher. They asked me how many days have we been in here and I answered him … I said ‘10 days’.</p> <p>“At that time, my brain wasn’t working. In my brain … there was no maths, no arithmetic, no English. At that time, I was so hungry as well.”</p> <p>The media conference was the first time the team have spoken about the experience after recovering at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital.</p> <p>All the questions from the press conference were submitted in advance and screened by psychologists to ensure the wellbeing of the team.</p> <p>The 25-year-old coach, Ekkapol Chantawong, answered most of the questions and recalled the moment when they discovered they were trapped in the cave system.</p> <p>“We went in there and saw a couple of pools of water. This time we went further than that. I said, ‘Do we want to go?’</p> <p>“One of the boys said, ‘Within one hour we have to come back, we have to come out before 5pm, because someone has to get home.’”</p> <p>When the boys went to leave, they realised they were trapped by water.</p> <p>After discovering even more water, the team became disorientated and it quickly became dark.</p> <p>“We were determined to find a way out. We tried to calm down. I told everyone to fight on, to have a good spirit, don’t give up.”</p> <p>The soccer team thought of a plan to “dig a passageway” for the water to flow through, however, it didn’t recede at all.</p> <p>“Everyone decided, ‘OK, let’s go and find a place to sleep, don’t worry, maybe it was just because the water rose and then it would recede later.’”</p> <p>“We had determined that we were going to spend the night there. We did not prepare any bedding materials at all."</p> <p>The team agreed they would stay near the water and “pray to the gods”, the coach explained.</p> <p>“At this time we were not afraid. I thought on the next day the water would recede and then someone would come and find us.”</p> <p>When the second day arrived, the boys were starting to feel weak and hungry.</p> <p>They were fearful the torch would run out of battery, so they used it sparingly.</p> <p>The youngest team member said he felt “dizzy and weak” and tried to battle his pain by not thinking about food.</p> <p>The Wild Boars team spent a lot of their time digging holes with stone pieces to keep themselves busy and licked water from the stalactites in the cave to keep hydrated.</p> <p>They knew there was a way out at the end of the cave but understood how far away it was.</p> <p>"We have only one chance, to go to the other end of the cave,” said one boy.</p> <p>“My opinion was — if we are not able to find that way out, then we will die in the middle. So, we came back. We had two choices … First, to go this way and the second is to wait there and let other people come to discover us. Water started to flow into our direction. After a while, within one hour, the water started to rise.”</p> <p>The boys, who attended the press conference in their Wild Boars soccer uniforms, revealed how happy they were to be able to watch the final game of the World Cup after they had been rescued.</p> <p>As the team members shared with the press their plans for the future, one boy said he promised to be “a good person, a good citizen”.</p> <p>Several boys revealed they wanted to be Navy SEALS one day, which drew an immediate applause in the audience.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Respect! The rescued <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thai</a> cave boys pose with a photo of Saman Gunan, the Thai Navy SEAL diver who died while trying to rescue them. <br /><br />Photo: AP <a href="https://t.co/YIYgD73pjO">pic.twitter.com/YIYgD73pjO</a></p> — Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ostrov_A/status/1019551406544519168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>During the conference, the boys also paid tribute to former Thai Navy SEAL, Saman Gunan, who died delivering them oxygen tanks.</p> <p>To honour Saman, the boys will enter the monkhood and donate the merit to him.</p> <p>In Theravada Buddhist practice, this is one of the greatest marks of respect one person can give another. </p>

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"The day we’ve been waiting for": Four boys freed from Thai cave

<p><span>Yesterday, four members of a young Thai soccer team were brought to safety after being trapped in a flooded cave system with their coach.</span></p> <p><span>The first four boys to be removed in the rescue mission had arrived at hospital, according to the head of the rescue operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn.</span></p> <p><span>Today, the rescue mission will continue, as experts attempt to bring the remaining eight boys and their coach to safety.</span></p> <p><span>Mr Osottanakorn told reporters that 90 divers, including 50 foreign rescue workers, were all assisting with the time-pressured operation.</span></p> <p><span>"I would like to inform the public at home and those who have been giving us support all along, after 16 days, today's the day we've been waiting for, we are seeing the Wild Boars in the flesh now."</span></p> <p><span>The first boy left the cave at 5.40 pm local time on Sunday.</span></p> <p><span>Mr Osottanakorn said that rescue workers will need “about 10 hours” to prepare for the next rescue operation.</span></p> <p><span>After the four boys were rescued, Thai Navy seals posted on their Facebook page: “Have sweet dreams everyone. Good night. Hooyah.”</span></p> <p><span>Divers have navigated dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, to rescue the stranded team.</span></p> <p><span>A former Thai navy SEAL had passed out during the operation while making the dive on Friday and sadly died.</span></p> <p><span>The team has been trapped underground for more than two weeks.</span></p> <p><span>Cave rescue experts previously said an underwater escape should be a last resort due to the strenuous and difficult route to safety, however Mr Osottanakorn revealed that mild weather had created prime conditions for an underwater evacuation.</span></p> <p><span>The optimal conditions won’t last if it rains again.</span></p> <p><span>Before revealing the rescue was underway, authorities instructed the crowd of media gathered around the cave to leave.</span></p> <p><span>On June 23, the soccer teams of young boys and their 25-year-old coach set out to explore the cave complex after soccer practice.</span></p> <p><span>An army commander involved in the operation, said rescuing the entire team could take three to four days but is dependent on the weather, reported the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-08/first-boys-rescued-from-thai-cave/9956044" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>ABC</strong>.</span></em></a></span></p>

International Travel

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British Airways unveils VERY funny safety video – how many famous faces do you know?

<p>In the battle of the airline safety videos, British Airways has delivered a killer blow. </p> <p>Last year, the British airline took direct aim at New Zealand's national carrier, saying "Hey, Air New Zealand, you're not the only one with a star-studded safety video". </p> <p>Featuring Sir Ian McKellan, Thandie Newton, Gordon Ramsay and Rowan Atkinson reprising his role as Mr Bean, the video was full of classic British dry humour and clocked up almost 25 million views. </p> <p>While adopting a similar format, the sequel is arguably even more hilarious. </p> <p>Introducing the pre-flight video, its "director", comedian Asim Chaudhry (aka Chabuddy G), says British A-listers were begging for parts. </p> <p>"Chabuddy, please let us be part of the sequel," he said, mimicking them in a high wine.</p> <p>"It's pathetic really. And sure, they've got their Oscars, they've got their Baftas - but what they really want is a Sista - the Society of In-flight Safety Training Awards. They all want to get their hands on the golden wings... I quite fancy some wings actually. Can someone go chicken shop?"</p> <p>The likes of Sir Michael Caine, Olivia Colman, Naomie Harris, David Walliams and Joanna Lumley are seen "auditioning" in humorous sketches, while simultaneously delivering those essential safety messages. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQ9Xpzi4qkU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The hapless director mistakes three-time Bafta winner Colman, star of <em>The Crown</em> and <em>Broadchurch</em>, for a tea lady and unwittingly offends Lumley.  </p> <p>The <em>Absolutely Fabulous</em> star is required to tell passengers to remove their high heels because they could rip the emergency slide before delivering the painfully cheesy line "Don't worry, you'll all still look absolutely fabulous without them".</p> <p>Giving Chabuddy, who "directs" each sketch, a withering look, Lumley asks whether the line is "strictly necessary". </p> <p>"Yeah," Chabuddy replies. "Otherwise people won't know who you are."</p> <p>But it's not all about giving passengers a pre-flight laugh. Besides delivering the safety messages, the video promotes Flying Start, the global charity partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief which has supported over half a million children in the UK and some of the world's poorest communities since its 2010 launch. </p> <p>Unlike Air New Zealand's sometimes OTT videos (the one launched last July featured skiing down a pavlova, dipping a marshmallow in a boiling mud pit and a giant kea), the British video, which will roll out from this July, keeps things simple. </p> <p>No heavily-edited "fantastical" landscapes a la Air New Zealand, just the all-important safety information delivered with a generous helping of good humour.  </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEsHqdA9dV0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Air New Zealand has become increasingly intent on cramming its own safety videos with "celebrities", moving on from local actors and All Blacks to American stars Adrian Grenier, Katie Holmes and Cuba Gooding Jr. </p> <p>While intended to be a light-hearted take on what makes New Zealand unique, they have become increasingly bizarre. In trying too hard to surpass other airlines' videos, or their own, they've lost their sense of humour - to this viewer at least. </p> <p>Commenting on the latest video, which shows Grenier on a tour of Antarctica, in a <em>Stuff</em> article earlier this year, Darren Bevan says: "With its collection of bad dad jokes, goofy American tourist vibe and degree of Hollywood privilege, it simply seems to me like the bottom of the barrel being scraped."</p> <p>But you be the judge. Let us know what you think of the British Airways video, or Air New Zealand's, in the comments below. </p> <p><em>Written by Lorna Thornber. Republish with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a></em></p>

International Travel

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Airline bans overweight passengers from business class

<p>Thai Airways has installed seatbelt airbags on business class cabins on its new Dreamliner jets. There’s only one problem – passengers with a waistline of more than 142.24cm (or 56 inches) simply won’t fit.</p> <p>According to vice president of Thai Airways safety, security and standards department Flight Lieutenant Prathana Pattanasiri, passengers carrying a little extra weight will not be able to fasten the new seatbelt airbags in a way that meets safety standards.</p> <p>The new airbags will also make flying difficult for parents of young children if they need to travel with kids sitting on their laps.</p> <p>The seatbelts can’t be extended because of the airbag mechanism, the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1429426/thai-cites-safety-for-waistline-rule-on-dreamliners" target="_blank">Bangkok Post reports.</a></strong></span></p> <p>Thai Airways has fitted the new seatbelt airbags on business class seats on its Dreamliner 787-9 fleet. It has now imposed a waist size limit on passengers and banned passengers carrying infants on their laps.</p> <p>This isn’t the first airline to take aim at overweight passengers, with European airline Finnair announcing in November its plan to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/international-travel/2017/11/airline-to-weigh-passengers-before-every-flight/">weigh passengers before every flight.</a></strong></span></p> <p>A <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-tips/2017/01/passengers-should-be-weighed-for-flights-according-to-fellow-flyers/">survey of British passengers</a></span></strong> found that 39 per cent of people believe airlines should weigh people before flights.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Popular airline ditches reclining seats

<p>The prospect of a flight without being able to recline your seat would seem unbearable for some, but passengers flying with a popular airline will have to get used to the idea after it announced it would be ditching reclining seats.</p> <p>British Airways officially announced it would be fitting non-reclining seats on 35 planes set to fly economy on short haul routes, to help slash ticket prices for customers.</p> <p>The changes, which are said to have been spearheaded by the airline’s chief executive Alex Cruz who formally worked for Spain’s low-cost carrier Vueling, received a mixed reception from passengers and could risk the airline’s elite status.</p> <p>A British Airways spokesman said: “As well as new long-haul aircraft, we have 35 brand new short-haul planes arriving over the next five years.</p> <p>“We are installing at-seat power throughout the aircraft and will soon offer on-board Wi-Fi.</p> <p>“The new aircraft will have brand new seats set to a gentle recline to ensure everyone in the cabin enjoys a comfortable journey.</p> <p>“These changes will also allow us to offer more low fares to customers.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Would you be willing to purchase less-comfortable seats for an international flight, if it meant you’d be getting cheaper airfares? </p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance&amp;utm_medium=in-article-banner&amp;utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/banners/Travel-Insurance_Website_GIF_468x602.gif" alt="Over60 Travel Insurance"/></a></p>

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